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News Update: Congress Now

UEECONGRESS (396.38)

2943.6.18 SET

Session AutoScript

Proofed and Admitted – Archivist Yates (#57573BDF)

SPEAKERMARSHALLMADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Good afternoon, everyone. Session 38 of the 396th UEE Congress is hereby resumed. If you will take your seats, the clerk will initiate a call.

<long pause>

SPEAKERMARSHALLMADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): We have a quorum and may now conduct business. If anyone should have new legislation, please rise and be heard.

<pause>

SPEAKERMARSHALLMADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Since there is no new business, we shall proceed with our scheduled debate. The floor recognizes the honorable Witness Cavendash from Earth.

WITNESSJEDACAVENDASH (C-Earth-Sol Sys): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Esteemed colleagues of the Senate, we are approaching another turnover in the financial cycle and unfortunately, it is time again to ask ourselves serious questions regarding expenditures in the budget.

<indistinct chatter>

WITNESSJEDACAVENDASH (C-Earth-Sol Sys): Yes, yes, I know. Everyone’s favorite time of the year.

<slight laughter>

WITNESSJEDACAVENDASH (C-Earth-Sol Sys): After careful reviews with the analysts from the various subcommittees as well as fiscal oversight officials, we will need to shave an additional three percent —

<indistinct chatter>

SPEAKERMARSHALLMADRIGAL (U-Borea-Magnus Sys): Quiet, please.

WITNESSJEDACAVENDASH (C-Earth-Sol Sys): Three percent off of the overall budget.

<loud indistinct noises>

WITNESSJEDACAVENDASH (C-Earth-Sol Sys): Yes, Mr. Harren.

SENATORCLAYHARREN (U-Kampos-Ellis Sys): Madame Witness, I find it difficult to believe that with all the increases in taxes and even the sales of mining rights that I myself partitioned off to the private resource industries, we are still hemorrhaging money.

WITNESSJEDACAVENDASH (C-Earth-Sol Sys): I assure you, the Imperator’s office is well aware of the situation and will be submitting its plan for intended cuts. We will be sending the budget back to each of the committees for additional cuts. Minimum expenditure target numbers will be judged on a committee-by-committee basis.

SENATORKYLEPOLO (U-Angeli-Croshaw Sys): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I may make a suggestion, Madame Witness. The Senate and even the Imperator have made drastic cuts in order to help weather these tough economic times. Frankly, I’m not willing to endanger any more services or lower the already low standards for our Citizens and Civilians who are toiling every day to help support this empire. I think we should pass the weight of this financial burden onto the High Command. I know it’s not popular to say, but the military has been claiming funds as if it were a time of war. Vanduul attacks are down —

SENATORKYLEPOLO (U-Angeli-Croshaw Sys): We haven’t maintained a presence in Tiber for years so they can tear that place up as much as they want. The truth is, Vanduul raids against our systems have been declining, but the military’s research departments have been pulling the same funds for almost eight years now. I don’t see where these funds are going except to maintain their status quo. Therefore, I think it’s only fair that they take a hard look at their infrastructure and make cutbacks like the rest of us.

Of course, it will be difficult, it will be unpopular, but we all need to do more with less. That’s the financial climate that we’re trying to weather and everybody has to contribute if we’re going to pull through.

<scattered applause>

WITNESSJEDACAVENDASH (C-Earth-Sol Sys): If you would be willing to draft the bill, I will present it to the Imperator for review after it passes Senate approval.

SENATORKYLEPOLO (U-Angeli-Croshaw Sys): Of course, Madame Witness.

WITNESSJEDACAVENDASH (C-Earth-Sol Sys): Then we will postpone the deadline for committee review until your bill has been submitted. Mr. Speaker, I yield the rest of my time.